A Lincoln Freemason has celebrated his sixty years in Freemasonry with impeccable delivery of a double first degree ceremony.
Gerald Forman, who’s done his Freemasonry under eight Provincial Grand Masters – and Lincolnshire has had only 17 since 1792 – took the chair and gave an absolute masterclass in masonry. Gerald has been planning this auspicious occasion for 8 years, Provincial Grand Master Dave Wheeler said;
'I’ve had this evening in my diary for five years; that’s how long ago Gerald told me I’d be presenting his certificate tonight,'
Saying Gerald was an iconic figure in Lincoln Freemasonry and a ‘national treasure’ to the Brethren of the city’s Ashlar Lodge, Dave said he was one of the few remaining Lincoln Masons who met at three city venues – Mint Street, The County Assembly Rooms and their current premises The Nightingale.
Dave said;
'You attended the last meeting held at the County Assembly Rooms as my guest, and also the first meeting held at The Nightingale. The first meeting here, seven years ago, was a new experience for all of us, and the caterers ran out of food before they got to where you and I were sitting. I was a bit bothered by this but you just said ‘don’t worry Dave, this is the first night of the next 50 years and everything will be fine’. Well, here we are, celebrating your special evening, and everything is more than fine.'
Dave had presented Gerald with his 50-year Royal Arch certificate in Concord Chapter in October 2018.
'He told me that night that I would be presenting his 60-year certificate in Craft in 2023, and told me to put it in my diary.'
Dave said it had been absolute honour for him to present Gerald with his certificate celebrating 60 years in Freemasonry, adding that to mark Gerald’s anniversary when two new candidates had been initiated into Ashlar Lodge showed not only the enduring nature of Freemasonry, but also that its future was in good hands.
Freemasons turned out in force for Gerald’s landmark day, crowding out the temple and the festive board. Amongst them were 15 of Gerald’s personal guests, and all were able to see him presented with a commemorative engraved decanter to mark not only his masonic milestone, but also the esteem in which he’s held by Lincoln Freemasons in general, and members of his own Lodge in particular.
